Unknowingly Consuming Endangered Tuna Nov 21, 2009
Using a short sequence of mitochondrial DNA from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene, or "cox1," to identify a species, this tool has, among other results, identified the presence of endangered whales in Asian markets, looked at the species of ungulates appearing in African bushmeat markets, and documented fraud in the labeling of caviar and red snapper. Lowenstein and colleagues used DNA barcoding to identify the kind of fishes labeled "tuna" in one Denver and 30 New York City restaurants. (Science Daily)
Research reveals lipids' unexpected role in triggering death of brain cells Nov 13, 2009
Eventually the mitochondria release specialized proteins, like cytochrome c and other factors, triggering a biochemical cascade that ends in the destruction of both the mitochondria and the cell itself. . (EurekAlert!)
Genetic Variation Of Enzyme Linked With Outcomes For Women Receiving Tamoxifen Nov 3, 2009
The formation of active metabolites is brought about by the polymorphic cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme. "Approximately 100 CYP2D6 genetic variants have been identified, which manifest in the population in 4 distinct phenotypes, extensive (normal activity), intermediate (reduced activity), poor (no activity), and ultrarapid (high activity) metabolism, and a gene-dose effect with respect to endoxifen plasma concentrations has been demonstrated. Thus, it can be speculated that genotype-related... (Science Daily)
Therapeutic Value of Reishi Nov 1, 2009
Reishi may interfere with the metabolism of medications that are metabolized by the liver, because it inhibits portions of the hepatic cytochrome system. Research shows that Reishi mushrooms confer a variety of health benefits. (Suite101.com)
Promising Novel Treatment For Human Cancer -- Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract Oct 19, 2009
Apoptotic proteins such as cytochrome C, caspase-9, caspase-3 and cell cycle proteins, including P21 and CDK4, were measured by Western blotting ... The apoptosis was accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. (Science Daily)
Triggers Found In Cells' Transition From Colitis To Cancer Oct 15, 2009
(May 26, 2009) Researchers have found that increased expression of a form of cytochrome P-450 is a key marker of inhibition of colitis in mice by caffeic acid, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant compound widely. . (Science Daily)
Stimulus-funded university research addressing issues from climate change to cancer, creating jobs and training a new generation of scientists Sep 30, 2009
Her research is directed at understanding how a particular lung enzyme works the cytochrome P450 enzyme that breaks down nicotine ... "To understand how this enzyme works, my lab has previously used a technique called X-ray crystallography to essentially take before and after snapshots of the cytochrome P450 enzyme that is, still shots before and after foreign chemicals like nicotine bind to it," said Scott ... "This grant will support application of a new technique, nuclear magnetic... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Barcoding Endangered Sea Turtles Sep 16, 2009
DNA barcodes are relatively short segments of mitochondrial DNA. A region of the COI, or cox1 gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) has been agreed-upon by researchers as appropriate for barcoding, given that it is both highly variable and very specific. This portion of the genome mutates quickly enough to distinguish many closely related species but also slowly enough so that individuals within a species may have similar barcodes. (Science Daily)
Ticagrelor — Is There Need for a New Player in the Antiplatelet-Therapy Field? Sep 10, 2009
The two-step activation process, involving a series of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes, is susceptible to the interference of genetic polymorphisms2 and drug drug interactions. 3 Patients with a poor response to clopidogrel have an increased risk of coronary thrombosis. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Gene Variant Linked To Effectiveness Of Popular Anti-clotting Medication Plavix Aug 27, 2009
Association of Cytochrome P450 2C19 Genotype With the Antiplatelet Effect and Clinical Efficacy of Clopidogrel Therapy. JAMA, 2009; 302 (8): 849-857. (Science Daily)
Delta-opioid receptors reduce oxidative injury Aug 26, 2009
We have recently shown that delta-opioid receptors (DORs) play an important role in neuroprotection from hypoxic/ischemic injury via the regulation of extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (ERK) and cytochrome c release. Since ERK and cytochrome c are differentially involved in caspase signaling of oxidative injury that significantly contributes to neuronal damage in ischemia/reperfusion, we considered if DOR activation protects the ischemic brain by attenuating oxidative injury. (BioMed Central)
Targeted isolation, sequence assembly and characterization of two white spruce (Picea glauca) BAC clones for terpenoid synthase and cytochrome P450 genes involved in conifer defence reveal insights into a conifer genome Aug 6, 2009
We used a PCR-based approach to identify BAC clones for two target genes, a terpene synthase (3-carene synthase; 3CAR) and a cytochrome P450 (CYP720B4) from a non-arrayed genomic BAC library of white spruce (Picea glauca). Shotgun genomic fragments isolated from the BAC clones were sequenced to a depth of 15. (BioMed Central)
FDA Approves LIVALO(R) for Primary Hypercholesterolemia and Combined Dyslipidemia Aug 4, 2009
Importantly, pitavastatin is only minimally metabolized by the liver through the cytochrome P450 pathway, through which many other medications are metabolized. In pivotal Phase III trials, LIVALO effectively reduced LDL-C and improved other parameters of lipid metabolism in special patient populations, including the elderly, patients with diabetes and patients at higher cardiovascular risk. (PR Newswire)
Daiichi Sankyo and Lilly Receive U.S. FDA Approval for Effient(TM) Jul 11, 2009
In addition, the results from a pharmacogenetic substudy of TRITON-TIMI 38 patients, as well as several early phase pharmacokinetic studies, showed that the active form of prasugrel does not appear to be affected by genetic variations in common cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, including CYP2C19. Because both Effient and Plavix are "prodrugs", they require CYP450 enzymes to convert them to their active drug form. (PR Newswire)
How Mitochondria Get Their Membranes Bent Jul 10, 2009
Cytochrome c, for example, an important signaling protein in programmed cell death (apoptosis), is stored in this compartment ... When apoptosis is triggered, the pores enlarge and cytochrome c is released into the cytosol. (Science Daily)
Multiple Means Of Identifying Species Better Than DNA Barcoding Alone Jul 8, 2009
In animals, the 5' segment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) is relatively established as a barcoding marker, but Spooner highlights many groups where COI fails to distinguish species. The COI region fails completely for plants because it evolves at a slower rate in plants and has a much more variable sequence. (Science Daily)
Association between SNPs within candidate genes and compounds related to boar taint and reproduction Jul 6, 2009
Genes with significant SNPs in either of the traits investigated include cytochrome P450 members CYP2E1, CYP21, CYP2D6 and CYP2C49, steroid 5alpha-reductase SRD5A2, nuclear receptor NGFIB, catenin CTNND1, BRCA1 associated protein BAP1 and hyaluronoglucosaminidase HYAL2. Haplotype analysis provided additional evidence for an effect of CYP2E1 on levels of skatole and indole, and for BAP1, HYAL2 and SRD5A2 on levels of androstenone. (BioMed Central)
Genetic Markers To Help Fight Diabetes Discovered Jun 25, 2009
These markers include variants in a key drug metabolizing gene called cytochrome P450 3A4 and a PPARG-coactivator known as PPARGC1B. Other markers were located in genes associated with PPARG function and include the protein kinase MAP2K6, a potassium inwardly-rectifying channel called KCNJ16, and the farnesoid X receptor (NR1H4). Together, these markers predicted both response to Actos therapy and improvement in insulin sensitivity in the patients taking the drug. (Science Daily)
Evolution faster when it's warmer Jun 25, 2009
They tracked changes in one gene that codes for a protein known as cytochrome b, comparing the same gene in each of the pair of mammals to a "reference" gene in a common ancestor. By looking for mutations in the DNA code for this gene - each point where one letter in the code was substituted for another - the researchers were able to see which of the two mammals had "microevolved" faster. (BBC News)
Potential New Way To Protect Kidneys Threatened By Insufficient Blood Or Toxins May 23, 2009
Cytochrome c, a protein that normally helps mitchondrion breathe and produce fuel, escapes through the pores. Out of place, it becomes a deadly accomplice that activates suicide pathways. (Science Daily)
Gene May 'Bypass' Disease-linked Mitochondrial Defects May 13, 2009
The key gene (single-subunit alternative oxidase or AOX) in essence acts as a bypass for blockages in the so-called oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) cytochrome chain in mitochondria. Howard Jacobs, who led the study at the University of Tampere in Finland, likens that chain to a series of waterfalls in a hydroelectric power station. (Science Daily)
Genome-wide identification and characterization of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila May 2, 2009
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases play key roles in the metabolism of a wide variety of substrates and they are closely associated with endocellular physiological processes or detoxification metabolism under environmental exposure ... A total of 44 putative functional cytochrome P450 genes were identified and could be classified into 13 families and 21 sub-families according to standard nomenclature. (BioMed Central)
Safer Methadone Use For Treatment Of Pain And Addiction Mar 9, 2009
Kharasch et al. Methadone metabolism and clearance are induced by nelfinavir despite inhibition of cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) activity ... Kharasch et al. Methadone Pharmacokinetics Are Independent of Cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) Activity and Gastrointestinal Drug Transport. (Science Daily)
How Proteins Find Their 3-D Shapes Mar 1, 2009
In the PNAS paper, the two groups combined the Caltech experimental technique--first described in a 2002 paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society--with Wolynes's protein-folding models to see if they could come up with the precise folding pattern of cytochrome c, a protein that is part of the mitochondrial electron-transfer chain that turns food into cellular energy ... The UCSD model of the folding energy landscape for cytochrome c. The landscape was probed experimentally... (Science Daily)
Vitamin C Production: Molecular Gatekeeper In Enzyme Discovered Feb 27, 2009
In plants, a chemical, cytochrome C, replaces the function of oxygen. Cytochrome C or oxygen ensures that the co-factor flavin in the enzyme's action centre is brought back to its original state after reaction. (Science Daily)
Science intends to tag all life Feb 16, 2009
" The segment of DNA to be used in the project is found in a gene known as cytochrome c oxidase I, or COI. Many museum-stored specimens will be used for barcoding This is involved in the metabolism of all creatures but is coded slightly differently in each one of them. In humans, for example, COI barcodes differ from one another by only one or two DNA "letters" out of 648; while we differ from chimpanzees at about 60 locations, and in gorillas by about 70. Wednesday saw the announcement at the... (BBC News -- Science)
